It’s almost time for the Wisconsin State Fair, which takes place Aug. 3-13. And to get you salivating for what's to come, they’ve released their annual list of just under 100 new gut-busting dishes which will be featured at the 2023 Fair. For the record, that's the most new foods we've seen since 2015!
Among the new offerings, you'll find Milwaukee favorites from small local businesses including lumpia from Lumpia City and a slew of plant-based indulgences (including deep-fried Oreos) from Twisted Plants.
Of course, you can also take a ride on the wild side with Cotton Candy Jerky (yes, it's made with beef); Deep-Fried Garlic Gator Toes (mmmm!); or the Sporkie finalist Dill Pickle Donut. Or you can fire up your tastebuds with offerings like the HabanGYRO (served with habanero tzatziki) or try out the "world's hottest" slushie: The Atomic Slush.
And yes, there's something for those of you who'd like to bite into a bug (literally). Choose from the generously bug-endowed Bug Brownie On-a-Stick or the more savory Bug Chow Mein featuring a variety of critters served with teriyaki noodles. (Important note: eating bugs is not recommended for people with shellfish allergies).
As usual, ALL of them are fair game for my annual State Fair food tasting and reviewing extravaganza during which I eat a great many new State Fair foods and report back to you with all the good, bad and ugly details.
Help me make my list of foods to review
For the seventh year running (we’ll just forget about 2020), I'll review at least ten of the new Wisconsin State Fair foods, if not more. But I need your help! I've got a small list started of things I'm interested in trying, but I'm also taking requests! Send your suggestions for foods I should consider by messaging me on social media (@LoFredrich) or emailing me at lori@onmilwaukee.com (use subject line: State Fair Foods) on or before July 31. I'll try to include as many of your suggestions as I can.
In the meantime, you can take a look back at the 14 new State Fair foods I reviewed and ranked in 2022.
ALL the new foods at the Fair
For your convenience, here's the complete list of all the new foods at the Fair (along with where to find them). You can also find more favorite dishes using the Wisconsin State Fair Food Finder.
* notes a Sporkies finalist
** notes a Drinkies finalist
- Alligator Ribs (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Apple Cider Slushie (Wisconsin Apple Growers, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- Apple Pie Fries: Apple pie in sliced pop-tart/fry form (Wisconsin Apple Growers Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- Arancini Di Riso: Breaded Italian rice ball with onion, parmesan, pecorino romano cheese, basil, peas, carrots, mozzarella cheese, cooked beef and pork, served with marinara (Pistol Pete's, Grandstand Avenue)
- Atomic Slush: World's hottest slush featuring cinnamon slush with Carolina reaper powder topped with whipped cream, spicy caramel sauce and spicy candy pieces. (Exotic Meat Grill South, Grandstand Avenue)
- Bacon Cheddar Bubble Waffle (Bubble Tea & Waffles, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Beer Cheese Wisconsin Lava Cake*: Salted Milwaukee Pretzel Company slider buns filled with beer cheese soup, topped with hot honey (WürstBar, Central Avenue & Second Street)
- Beer-Battered Corn Dog Dipped in a Hot Wisconsin Cheddar Sauce (George's Fun Foods, SpinCity)
- Blueberry Mini Donuts: Blueberry mini donuts dusted with vanilla sugar (Mini Donuts, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos: Coconut shrimp tossed in boom boom sauce, served on tropical slaw with pineapple mango salsa in a flour tortilla (Tropics, Wetley Way & First Street)
- Brat & Kraut Cheese Curd Taco: Johnsonville brat bites, cheddar cheese curds, sauerkraut, and Beer ’n Brat mustard in a fried flour tortilla (Richie's Cheese Curd Tacos, Wetley Way)
- Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Iced Latte**: Iced latte flavored with brown sugar, sweet potato purée, cinnamon, brown sugar boba pearls, topped with a toasted marshmallow and deep-fried sweet potato funnel cake nugget (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, Badger Avenue & Center Street)
- Brownie Layered Divine Mint Filled Brownies (Flakey Jo’s Homemade Pastries, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- Bug Brownie On-a-Stick: Chocolate frosted brownie topped with candy corn, ants, crickets, worms and scorpions, served on-a-stick (All Things Jerky, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Bug Chow Mein: Teriyaki noodles are mixed with sauteed edible bugs like crickets, worms, ants, june bugs, and juicy Sago Worms. Served with soy sauce, duck sauce, and a fortune cookie for your dining pleasure. (Exotic Meat Grill, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Build Your Own Boba Drink: Offerings include tea, iced coffee, smoothie, frozen lemonade, slushie, or energy drink (Bubble Tea & Waffles, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Camel Chili Cheese Fries: Fries topped with 100% ground camel meat, chili and cheese (Exotic Meat Grill, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Chicago Style Tots: Cheddar cheese, sliced hot dog, diced onion, tomatoes, sport pepper, celery salt, and pickles on top of tator tots (Knucklehead Central Avenue & Center Street)
- Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Coastal Corn Nuggets*: Sweet corn nuggets topped with queso, tropical slaw, pineapple mango salsa, and cotija cheese (Tropics, Wetley Way & First Street)
- Conch (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Cotton Candy Jerky: Beef jerky flavored like cotton candy (All Things Jerky, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Cotton Candy Lemonade**: Lemonade topped with blue cotton candy (Saz’s Miller High Life Pavilion, Central Avenue & Second Street)
- Crab Legs (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Crawfish (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Crawfish & Shrimp Étouffée (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Crispy Jalapeño Chipotle Chicken Sandwich: Spicy chicken breast, jalapeño cilantro cabbage blend, avocado mash, and spicy jalapeño chipotle sauce on a toasted bun (Blue Moon Tavern at the Park, Grandstand Avenue & Main Street)
- Deep-Fried Apple Pie*: Deep-fried white bread filled with apple pie filling, topped with caramel and cinnamon sugar (Saz’s BBQ, Badger Avenue & Second Street)
- Deep-Fried Bacon Cheese Curds: Deep-fried bacon-flavored cheese curds (Brad & Harry's Cheese Curds, Central Avenue)
- Deep-Fried Chocolate Covered Strawberry Twinkie (Deep-Fried Sweet Treats On-a-Stick, Grandstand Avenue)
- Deep-Fried Garlic Gator Toes (All Things Jerky, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Deep-Fried Red Hot Ice Cream: Deep-fried vanilla ice cream, topped with whipped cream and Red Hot cinnamon candies (Leadfoots Race Bar & Grill, Grandstand Avenue between Second Street & Benno's Micro Alley)
- Dessert Pizza: Pizza crust with a variety of sweet toppings (Charlie's Pizza, Badger Avenue & Second Street)
- Dill Pickle Donut*: Yeast raised donut with dill pickle juice whipped cream cheese frosting, topped with pickles (Fluffy's Hand Cut Donuts, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Dill Pickle Fudge: White chocolate base with natural dill pickle flavors (Sherwood's Fabulous Fudge, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- The Dough Float: Chocolate chip cookie dough vanilla ice cream root beer float, topped with chocolate sauce (Emma’s Cookie Kitchen, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Emmanuel's Mix Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkin flavored snack mix (Emmanuel's Mix, Exposition Center)
- The Ferris Mule**: Ginger beer, blackberries, lime juice and agave nectar, topped with blackberries, a rosemary sprig, lime wedge (Old Fashioned Sipper Club, Central Avenue & First Street)
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chocolate Bark (Ultimate Confections, Wisconsin Products Pavilion, Exposition Center, Central Mall)
- Fried Alligator Po’ boy (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Garlic Parmesan Bubble Waffle (Bubble Tea & Waffles, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Gator Fries: Fries topped with gator bites (Exotic Meat Grill, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Grape Lemonade (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, Badger Avenue & Center Street)
- Green Apple Lemonade (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, Badger Avenue & Center Street)
- HabanGYRO: Classic gyro with spicy habanero tzatziki sauce (Gyro Man, Second Street between Central Avenue & Grandstand Avenue)
- High Seas Blue Lagoon: Citrus and blue coconut syrup drink topped with a blue raspberry shark gummy (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue between Second Street & Benno's Micro Alley)
- Hot House Chicken Nuggets served with fries (Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Hot House Chicken Sandwich served with fries (Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Hush Puppies with Oyster Gravy Dipping Sauce (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue between Second Street & Benno's Micro Alley)
- Irish Dipper Sandwich*: Irish beef, Guinness onion dip, and onions on a French roll, side of Guinness gravy for dipping (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Limerick Nitro Latte: Nitro coffee with cream, non-alcohol Irish cream syrup, house-made whipped cream, sugar garnish (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub, Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Loaded Doner Fries: Fries topped with spit-roasted chicken, red cabbage, arugula, red onion, iceberg lettuce, carrot, white sauce, and house-made spicy aioli (WürstBar, Central Avenue & Second Street)
- Loaded Potato Kettle Corn: Kettle corn with flavors of a loaded baked potato (Pop's Kettle Corn, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- Loaded Sloppy Joe: Sloppy Joe served in a bowl, topped with your choice of fixings (Camp Bar, Central Avenue & Center Street)
- The Mac + Joe: Sloppy Joe served with mac and cheese, topped with your choice of fixings (Camp Bar, Central Avenue & Center Street)
- Mango Tango Tajín**: Mango-pineapple and creamy strawberry smoothie layers, topped with Chamoy and Tajín (Caribbean Smoothee, Two Locations: Grandstand Avenue OR Second Street)
- Maple Bacon Chocolate Fudge: Layered maple and chocolate fudge topped with bacon (Sherwood's Fabulous Fudge, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- Maple Bacon Turtle On-a-Stick (Freese's Candy Shoppe & Heavenly Roasted Nuts, Original Cream Puff Pavilion, South Grandstand Avenue, Exposition Center, Central Avenue)
- Minneapple Pie: Deep-fried apple pie (Minneapple Pie, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Oreo Crumble Cookie Dough On-a-Stick: Chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough covered in melted chocolate and Oreo crumbs (Kora's Cookie Dough, Two Locations: Main Street OR Second Street)
- PB&J Bubble Waffle (Bubble Tea & Waffles, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Pineapple Dragonade: Fresh-squeezed lemonade, fresh pineapple juice, and dragon fruit (Gertrude’s Pretzels, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Pizza Lumpia: Lumpia wrappers filled with pizza ingredients (Lumpia City, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Pizzadilla: Mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and pizza sauce grilled quesadilla, served with marinara sauce (Mexican Grill, South Grandstand Avenue)
- The Porkie Sundae*: Vanilla custard with cheesecake chunks, topped with caramel, hot fudge, graham cracker cookie, Rupena’s fudge-dipped candied bacon, and a cherry (Camp Bar, Central Avenue & Center Street)
- Reuben Loaded Fries (Robert's Restaurant, Grandstand Avenue
- Revere's Birria Beef & Mac Sandwich served with fries (Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- S'mores Nitro Latte: Nitro coffee with cream, toasted marshmallow simple syrup, chocolate graham cracker rim, and toasted marshmallow garnish (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Sea Salt Caramel Toffee Bubble Waffle (Bubble Tea & Waffles, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Seafood Lobster & Crab Sliders (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue)
- Seafood Paella (Off the Hook Seafood, North Grandstand Avenue)
- Seaweed Fish Sandwich: Beer-battered fried fish with seaweed, topped with coleslaw and malt vinegar tartar sauce and served with a side of three hush puppies (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue)
- Shrimp Quesadilla: Shrimp, cilantro, jalapeño peppers, cheese, black beans with fire-roasted corn and peppers quesadilla; also available with gluten-free shell (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue)
- Smoked Pistachios (Pop's Kettle Corn, Wisconsin Products Pavilion)
- The Spicy Sicilian: Glazed beef meatballs with smoked Gouda served on a hoagie (Pistol Pete's, Grandstand Avenue)
- Strawberry Lemonade Jubilee: Lemon-strawberry slush with lemons, strawberries, and mint (Krautland, Central Avenue)
- Sweet & Savory Funnel Cake "Fries"*: Funnel cake “fries” topped with cheese curds, bacon, chocolate drizzle, and cream cheese frosting (Bud Pavilion Central Avenue
- Tot & Chips Tots: Tots tossed in fish fry batter, topped with malt vinegar, Rustix Tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge (Knucklehead, Central Avenue & Center Street)
- Traditional Lumpia: Lumpia wrappers filled with a mixture of ground pork, cabbage, and other vegetables (Lumpia City, South Grandstand Avenue)
- Ultimate Minneapple Pie: Deep-fried apple pie served with vanilla and cinnamon ice cream, topped with apple syrup (Minneapple Pie, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Brat Slider: Pickled onions and house-made slaw with a plant-based BBQ brat (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Cauliflower Wings: Hand-breaded cauliflower in sweet chili sauce, topped with scallions and sesame seeds, served with house-made ranch (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Corn Dog: Hand battered plant-based hot dog, served with choice of ketchup, mustard or BBQ sauce (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Deep-Fried Oreos (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Fried Pickles: Fried pickle spears served with chipotle ranch (Twisted Plants West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion
- Vegan Fries: Seasoned crispy waffle fries (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Lemonade: original or strawberry (Twisted Plants West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Loaded Tots: Tots topped with vegan sour cream, shredded cheese, scallions, chives, and bacon bits (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Mozzarella Sticks: Deep-fried vegan cheese sticks, served with marinara (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Pineapple Express Slider: Grilled onions, grilled pineapples, chipotle mayo, and American cheese with a plant-based patty (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Still Smokin’ Slider: Grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, mayo, and provolone cheese with a plant-based patty (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Superbad Slider: Grilled onions, grilled jalapeños, chipotle ranch, and pepper jack cheese with a plant-based patty (Twisted Plants, West of Original Cream Puff Pavilion)
- Vegan Quesadilla: Vegan tortilla shell, vegan cheese, cilantro, jalapeños, black beans with fire-roasted corn and peppers quesadilla (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, Central Avenue)
- Walking Gyro: Classic Gyro ingredients layered in a bag of pita chips (Apollo's Gyros, Wetley Way & Center Street)
- Walking S'more: Golden Grahams, mini marshmallows, and chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream; additional toppings include ice cream, peanut butter sauce, and Fritos (Ultimate Confections, Wisconsin Products Pavilion, Exposition Center, Central Mall
- White Chocolate Wisconsin Cranberry Cookie Dough On-a-Stick (Kora’s Cookie Dough, Main Street OR Second Street)
- Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with Hot House Chicken Nuggets (Leff's Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, Grandstand Avenue & Second Street)
- Wisconsin Quesadilla*: Cheese curds, brats, grilled onions, grilled peppers, and shredded cheese quesadilla (Mexican Grill, South Grandstand Avenue)
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.